Bhubaneswar: Amid a sea of devotees, the Pahandi Bije ritual, one of the major rituals of Rath Yatra, of the Holy Trinity – Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath completed as the deities ushered onto their respective chariots on Bada Danda in Puri.
The Pahandi was conducted two hours before the scheduled time.
Against the backdrop of the colourful majestic chariots, the 2.5 km stretch of Bada Danda turned into a sea of humans.
After a series of nitis (rituals) since late at night, the Pahandi (ceremonial procession) began with Chakra Raj Sudarshan being brought in a grand procession atop Debadalana ratha of Devi Subhadra.
It was followed by the Pahandi of Lord Balabhadra. After Lord Balabhadra and sister Subhadra is seated on their chariots, it was the turn of Mahaprabhu Jagannath, the Lord of the Universe. The Pahandi of Lord Jagannath is the most awaited moment for the lakhs of devotees.
Divine chants of Hari Bol, Jai Jagannath and Huluhuli reverberated in the air soon after Lord Jagannath came out of the Singhadwar in Pahandi swinging his giant Tahia (tiara).
The ritual ended at around 01 PM with Lord Jagannath being taken atop the decorated Nandighosha chariot.
